Foreign Ministry denies Smotrich’s claim that he abolished Oslo-era Hebron agreement

The Foreign Ministry denies that Israel has abolished the 1997 Hebron agreement with the Palestinian Authority, after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed that it had done so.

The agreement gives the city’s Palestinian municipal council authority over planning, zoning and construction in the area of the city where its Jewish settlement is located, and which includes the Tomb of the Patriarchs holy site.

Smotrich claimed earlier that the Civil Administration had implemented a decision to transfer authority over these issues in the area of Jewish settlements.

In a statement published in English, the Foreign Ministry explains that the agreement “has not been canceled,” although Israel has implemented several changes.

“Several months ago, the security cabinet adopted a decision that specifically concerns jurisdictions in the field of planning and construction with regard to the Jewish community in Hebron and Jewish heritage sites,” it says, adding that “this decision was made following years of a complete lack of cooperation on these matters by the Hebron Municipality.”

“Beyond that, no changes have been made,” it says.